Symmetrical rotating switch



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,666

L. J. VOORHEES SYMMETRI CAL ROTATING SWITCH Filed Dec. 9, l 921 Patentedsept. 7, 1926.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE J. VOORHEES, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARFON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

.SYMMETRICAL BOTATING- SWITCH.

Application filed December 9, 1921. SeriaLNo. 521,233.

This invention relates to electrical Switches having a primary circuit-controlling mechanism, normally freely operable to open or close an electrical circuit, and having also locking means adapted, on proper manipulation, to place the primary mechanism in a position to either open or close the circuit, as desired, and to retain the rimary mechanism in such position until i ii'rther manipulation of the locking means. Such switches are applicable in general to electrical apparatus in which there is a circuit which must, under certain operating conditions, be frequently opened and closed, but which underv other conditions must be closed for long periods of time. For. the sake of illustration, the switch mechanism of the present invention will be described inconnection with a portable self-contained battery hand lamp, of the kind commonly known as flashlights.

The switch construction comprises broadly a fixed plate having a circular seat struck up therefrom and operable parts symmetrically disposed with respect to the seat. Arcuate slots are provided adjacent the periphery of the seat and adepressible, spring-supported push-button is rotatably mounted in the slots. The seat has elevated and depressed portions adapted to cooperate with a correspondin conformation in two plates rigidly attache to the push-button, one plate being disposed beneath, and the other plate above, the seat. The elevations and depressions are symmetrically arranged with respect to a central contact member which depends from the bottom plate. In the intermediate position of the switch, the spring-supported push-button ma be freely depressed, and

,will be automatically returned to its origi-f nal position upon removing the downward pressure. In the two extreme positions to which the button may be rotated, the engagement of the surfaces is such that the contact member is securely held either in or out of operative position.

An embodiment of theinvention asapplied'to a common form of flashlight is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Fig. 1 is an elevation of a flashlight provided with the improved switch,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the escutcheon plate and circular seat,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper plate,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper plate, a

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pushbutton, before assembly with the other parts,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the contact plate,

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1, showing the assembled switch in flash p01 sition, and

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are somewhat diagrammatic sectional views illustrating the relative position of the parts when the switch is in flash, on, and off, positions, respectively.

Referring to the drawings, the switch assemblage is illustrated as applied overnan aperture in a flashlight casing- 1. -A conductor .connects one terminal of the battery beneath the aperture in the casing. and hence beneath the switch.

Stamped in the escutcheon plate 2 is a circular seat 4 in the form of a truncated cone having the lateral wall 5. An external rotatable member 6 has a flat circular base 6 adapted to fit upon the seat, and a raised portion 7 around its periphery, from Which ortion a skirt 8 depends, overlyin the ateral wall 5. This skirt may be suitably knurled 'or fluted so that it may be readily turned by the fingers. Arcuate slots 9 are cut in seat 4 adjacent its periphery to guide the travel of the rotating parts.

These parts comprise, beside the rotatable plate 6' already referred to, a metal shell 1( having a rounded top and three tongues 11 adapted to pass through slots 9. The base plate 6' is cut away at its margin sufliciently to receive the tongues, so that the shell and plate may rotate vas a unit over seat 4. .A circular contact plate 12 is formed to fit upon the underside of the seat. Narrowed terminal portions 13 of tongues 11 pass through mar inal slots l i in the contact plate and are ent inwardly as at 13to pa ss beneath the plate. The contact plate 1s 1n this manner supported beneath the seat 4 and made rotatable with the shell 10 and base plate 6'. Before assemblin the arts as described, a spiral spring 15 Fig. is placed under compression between the base plate 6' and the rounded top of;shell 10. The latter is normally supported by the spring and is operable as a push-button to close the circuit, when the switch is in the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The means for retaining the rotatable parts of the switch in each of the three adjusted positions comprise series of cavities and projections formed in fixed seat 4 and cooperating parts in rotatable base plate 6 and contact plate 12. Three conical cavities 16, 16 and 16 are stamped in seat 4, symmetrically positioned with respect to the center of the seat. A conical projection is struck up halfway between each two cavities. These rojections, denoted by 17, 17, 17", lie on t e circumference of the circle passing through the centers of cavities 16, 16' 16". i

In base plate 6' there is a symmetrically arranged series of rounded bosses 18, 18, 18", adapted to snap over projections 17, 17', and 17 on seat 4, for a purpose to be explained. A series of elongated elevations 19, 19, 19 is also formed in plate 6', the members of this series alternating with the members of series 18. The altitude of projections 17 is such that they may travel in elevations 19 in close. engagement therewith.

The contact plate 12 has three symmetrically arranged trough-shaped depressions 20, 20 and 20", cooperating with the portions of seat 4 struck downward to form cavities 16, 16, 16". Said plate is also depressed centrally to form a conical contact member 21, adapted on proper manipulation of the switch to engage conductor strip 3.

The operation of the switch will now be described, having reference to Figs. 8. 9. and 10. In the flash position, Fig. 8, projections 17 and 17 on seat 4, are received in the elongated elevations 19 and 19 on rotatable base late 6. The projections lie adjacent the right hand end of the elongated elevations, in this position of the switch. Cavities 16 and 16 of the seat 4 lie in troughshaped depressions 20 and 20' of the contact plate 12 and near the left hand end of those depressions. The frictional engagement between 17 and 19, 17 and 19, 16 and 20, 16 and 20, is sufiicient to prevent accidental shifting of the parts. When the parts are so disposed, the push-button 10 may be freely depressed to bring projection 21 into contact with conductor strip 3, and will automatically return to the open circuit position when the ressure is removed; Upon depressing t e. button, tongues 11 descend through slots 9 in seat 4, and contact plate 12, rigidly secured to the tongues by the close fitting engagement of parts 13 and 14, or in any suitable manner, is thereby lowered into operative position.

To place the switch in on position (Fig. 9), it is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 8. Such movement causes the walls of cavities 16 and 16 of the seat 4 to slide upward past the ends of troughs 20 and 20 to rest upon the plane surface of contact plate 12. The depth of- 16 and 16 is such as to afford depending walls capable of forcing the contact plate downward until the conical contact member 21 engages strip 3. Elongated elevations 19 and 19' move forwardly over projections 17 and 17 until these projections lie near the left hand end of the said elevations. The compressive force exerted by the spring holds the parts in the described position until their position is changed by manual rotation.

Counter-clockwise rotation of the switch from the position shown in Fig. 8, will place it in of position, (Fig. 10). Projections 17 and 17' on seat 4: pass out of elevations 19 and 19 and are snapped into rounded bosses 1S and 18 on plate 6. At the same time, cavities 16 and 16 move to the right hand end of troughs 20 and 20. In this position, the shoulder 22, formed by cutting away a portion of tongue 11, passes beyond the end of slot 9 in seat 4. So long as the shoulder overlies the plate, it is obvious that the but ton can not be depressed. The frictional engagement of the parts holds them in adjusted position, as described in connection with Fig. 8.

In the above description where only a part of the members of any of the symmetrical series of locking members has been referred to, it will be understood that the remainder have the same mode of operation as those described.

It will thus be seen that when the member I 6 is rotated as far as possible in one direction, the lamp will be lighted and can be extinguished only by rotatmg member 6 in the opposite direction. In its other extreme position, member 6 is positively retained in its elevated position. When member 6 is in its median position, the lamp is lighted by pressing on the push-button and extinguished by releasing it. If less than three adjusted positions are desired, the switch mechanism may be modified by omission of parts to produce a satisfactory one-position or two-position switch.

As has already been indicated, the applica tion of the switch is not restricted to flashlights. Likewise, the illustrative exampleof an embodiment ofv the invention imposes no restriction on the scope of the invention, 7 the latter being defined solely by the appended claims.

I claim 1, A switch mechanism comprising an electricall conductive. housing, a contact in circuit t erewith, a conductor, means for reciprocating the contact along a path at all times intersecting the conductor, and rotatable means whereby the contact may be locked in fixed circuit-closing position with respect. to said conductor.

- ductive 3. A switch mechanism comprising superwhich the coo'peratin tlons.

posed rotatable platesreciprocable along a path substantially parallel to their axis of rotation, a contact carried by the lower of said lates, a conductor ada ted to be enage b said 'conta'ct,a.fix plate intermeiate said superposed plates, and coo crating means upon the fixed and rotatab e plates for securing the contact in a plurality of adjusted positions.

4. The invention according to claim 3, in

means comprise conical cavities in said ed late and ,troug) shaped depressions in' sai -lower rotata late, the walls of the cavities having a sliding fit invthe depressions. I t

The invention according to'claim 3, in which the cooperating means comprise conical projections extending upwardly .from said fixed plate and elevated rtions on the upper plate adapted'to receive the projec- 6. A switch mechanism comprising superposed r tatabIHdIateS reciprocable along a path substanti .parallel to their axis of rotation, a contact carried by the lower of said p with said projections.

' i ediate of said superposed plates, and cirlates, a conductor adapted to be en; by said contact, a fixed' plate interand comediate of said superposed plates,

operating means upon the fixed and rotatle plates for securing the contact in a plurality of adjusted positions, suchcooperating means comprising conical rojections ex-' tending upwardly from said plate and elevated portions'on the upper plate adapted to receive the projections, such elevated portions comprisi rounded bosses adapt ed to 5:23p oversa' conical projections and elonga elevations lates reci rocable ng a' path sub'sta'n of rotation, a contact carried by the lower of said lates, a conductor adapted'to be enby said contact, a fixed platefinten of. said cular series of members upon plates equidistant from the axis of rotation,

having a lit 7. A switch mechanism comprising an r-' said members being adapted to interfit to.

hold the contact in a plurality of adjusted positions.

A switchmechanism comprising a conductor, a symmetrical contact member, and

aplurality of guiding means symmetrically disposed about said contact member and adapted to force it into adjusted circuit-closadapted to be received in said recess, means for rotating said contact plate beneath said switch mechanism comprising a fixed plate having a depressed portion fixed'plate, and a conductor so spaced from the contact member that the circuit is closed when the switch is rotated to bring said re- .cess and depressed portion out of register.

10. A switch mechanism comprising a "spring supported push-button, a rotatable plate supported thereby and havin a boss, a contact member rotatable with sai plate, a fixed plate having a projection adapted to fit into said boss, means for rotating the rotatable plate into such position that the projection and bo$ engagqand means for preventing depression 0 e button when said parts are so en' Y Y Y e 11.An adjustab e switch mechanismcomrising a rotatable late, a push-button havmg a contact mem r and carried by said plate, said button depressible with re spect to the plate in one adjusted position,

a conductor, and meansfor preventing de= pression of the contact member whereby the 1 same is locked out of contact with the eon-r ductor'. v -12.' The invention accordi to claim 11, in which means are provid for forcing a con tatable; above said conductor and depressible into engagement therewith and means associated with the contact -member whereby upon rotation it will be either forced into contact 'with the conductor or held out of contact therewith, according to the direction of rotation. l

v14. Aswitch mechanism compris' a conductor, a symmetrical contact mem r rotatable above said conductor and depressible into -e gement therewith, and means for propelling the contact member into fixed circuit-closing and circuit-opening relation to said conductor when said contact member isrotated. 15. An-adjustable switch mechanism for batte a p -button 0 posed thereto, a contact member carried hy said ,ipush-button and overlying the conductor in all adjusted posiband lamps comprising a conductor;

tions of the switch, and means for rotating said push-button into a. osition where it will be sustained against epression.

16. An adjustable switch mechanism for battery hand lamps comprising a conductor, a push button opposed thereto, a contact member carried by said push button and overlying the conductor in all ad'usted positions of the switch, and means or rotating said push-button into a position where it will be held in depressed position'ligainst the conductor.

17. The invention according to claim 16, in which means are provided for sustaining the'contact member against depression.

18. A switch mechanism for battery hand lamps, comprising a push button, a symmetrical contact member carried thereby, a disc through which said push putton passes and by which it may be rotated, and means for securing the contact member in fixed position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

LEE J. VOORHEES. 

